Chapter 3
Duke Wu asked, "What is the foremost consideration in advancing troops?"
Wu Qi replied, "Firstly, one must understand the Four Easinesses, Two Heavinesses, and One Trustworthiness."
Duke Wu inquired further, "What do you mean by that?"
Wu Qi said, "It means that the terrain should be convenient for horses to gallop, horses should be well-suited for driving chariots, chariots should be easy to carry troops, and troops should be adept at fighting. Understanding the difficulty and easiness of the terrain is conducive to horses galloping. Feeding horses at the right time allows them to drive chariots well. Keeping the axle well-lubricated makes the chariot easy to carry people. Sharp weapons and sturdy armor enable troops to fight effectively. By this, I mean that advancing incurs heavy penalties for poverty, and retreating incurs severe punishment. And by One Trustworthiness, I mean that rewards and punishments must be carried out without fail. By truly achieving these, one has grasped the main conditions for victory."
Duke Wu asked, "What enables the army to win battles?"
Wu Qi answered, "A well-disciplined army can win battles."
He was asked again, "Isn't it about the number of troops?"
Wu Qi replied, "If the laws are not strict, rewards and punishments are not trustworthy, the retreat signal is not obeyed, and the advance signal is not followed, what use is there even if there are a million troops? The so-called well-disciplined army is one that adheres to rules and regulations in peacetime and displays might in wartime, advances with irresistible force and retreats swiftly, moves forward and backward with restraint, shifts left and right under command, maintains formation even when separated, and reforms ranks even when scattered. Sharing joys and hardships among superiors and inferiors, such an army remains united and will not disperse, can fight continuously without fatigue, and wherever it is directed, nothing can stop it. This is called a father-son army."
Wu Zi said, "The general principle of waging war is not to disrupt the rhythm of advancing and stopping and not to delay the timely provision of food and drink; do not exhaust the strength of horses and men. These three are to maintain the full strength of the army and enable it to fulfill its superior's mission. Enabling the army to fulfill its superior's mission is the foundation of military discipline. If there is no rhythm in advancing and stopping, food and drink are not provided in a timely manner, and horses and men are exhausted without rest, the army cannot fulfill its superior's mission, the superior's orders cannot be executed, garrisoning will be chaotic, and battles will surely be lost."
Wu Zi said, "Wherever two armies clash is a place of bloodshed and sacrifice. With a determination to die, one will find a way to survive; with a hope of escaping death, one will perish. Therefore, a good commander should make the troops feel as if they are sitting on a leaky ship or crouching under a burning house; urgent action is required. Even intelligent people cannot plan meticulously in time, and brave people cannot rally their spirits in time. Decisions must be made swiftly, and efforts must be exerted vigorously. Therefore, hesitation is the greatest danger in waging war, and most army defeats stem from indecisiveness."
Wu Zi said, "Soldiers often die due to lack of skills and lose battles due to unfamiliarity with tactics. Therefore, the method of waging war is first and foremost training. Once one person learns combat skills, he can teach ten. Ten can teach a hundred, a hundred can teach a thousand, a thousand can teach ten thousand, and ten thousand can teach the entire army. Be prepared for the near with the distant in mind, be rested for the fatigued, and be full for the hungry. Change circular formations into square ones, sitting formations into standing ones, advancing into stopping, left turns into right turns, forward into backward, dispersion into concentration, and concentration into dispersion. After becoming familiar with all these changes, weapons are issued. These are the responsibilities of a commander."
Wu Zi said, "The rules of teaching war are that short soldiers wield spears, tall soldiers use bows and arrows, strong soldiers carry large flags, brave soldiers operate the gongs and drums, weak soldiers are responsible for feeding, and intelligent soldiers devise strategies. Those from the same village are grouped together, and those in the same unit are mutually responsible for each other. One drumbeat organizes weapons, two drumbeats practice formations, three drumbeats signal a quick meal, four drumbeats prepare for departure, and five drumbeats align the troops. The drums sound together, and then flags are raised."
Duke Wu asked, "Are there specific principles for advancing and stopping troops?"
Wu Qi replied, "Do not camp at 'Tian Zao' (a narrow pass surrounded by mountains) and do not station troops on 'Long Tou' (the peak of a mountain). Tian Zao refers to the entrance of a large mountain valley, and Long Tou refers to the top of a large mountain. Military commands must use the Azure Dragon flag for the left wing, the White Tiger flag for the right wing, the Vermilion Bird flag for the front, the Black Turtle flag for the rear, and the Zhaoyao flag for the center, commanding from a high place. The army acts under its command. In battle, one must also observe the wind direction. Attack with noise and momentum when the wind is favorable, and fortify the defense and wait for changes when the wind is unfavorable."
Duke Wu asked, "What methods are there for training horses?"
Wu Qi replied, "Horses should be housed in comfortable quarters, fed with appropriate forage and water, and their hunger and fullness should be regulated. Keep the stables warm in winter and cool in summer. Regularly groom their manes and tails, carefully trim their hooves and fit them with shoes, and accustom them to various sounds and colors to prevent them from being frightened. Train them in galloping and chasing, and familiarize them with advancing and stopping movements. Only after establishing a close bond between horses and riders can they be used. The equipment for draft and riding horses, such as saddles, bridles, bits, and reins, must be complete and sturdy. Horses are either injured at the end of their use or at the beginning. They are not injured by being too hungry but by being too full. When it is late and the journey is long, alternate between riding and walking. It is better to tire the riders than to exhaust the horses. Always keep the horses with some reserve strength to prevent enemy attacks. Those who understand these principles will be invincible in the world."
